This work forms part of a study into the possibilities of improving the
construction systems used for exterior enclosing walls of social housing in Spain. It has
two parallel objectives, to improve the quality of the environment inside the houses and
to enhance their energy efficiency. The increase in environmental demands placed on
buildings, particularly in terms of energy saving and efficiency, has led to the need to
study potential improvements to the different construction systems currently available.
A well-designed facade adapted to local conditions, such as climate or solar access, is a
key factor in guaranteeing the building’s habitability, while also playing an important
role in decreasing environmental impacts. Retrofits on exterior enclosing walls, besides
improving energy performance, also afford the opportunity to renovate and improve
other kinds of needs, e.g., the building’s image, producing a positive impact on a
neighbourhood-wide scale. Energy efficiency improvements can also be deployed in
conjunction with other activities that may be necessary, such as maintenance or repair
work, thereby optimising the costs of the different interventions. The objectives
proposed herein are firstly to improve the habitability of the homes and, secondly, to
reduce the environmental impact of the construction systems within their life-cycle. The
facade plays a key role in achieving both of these aims.
Keywords: Building envelope, building stock regeneration, construction systems,
energy efficiency, energy poverty, energy retrofit, energy consumption, façade,
madrid: 1939-1979, materials, passive measures, social housing, thermal
behavior, thermal transmittance.
